However, the rate of iodized salt consumption, breastfeeding, immunisation coverage, and primary school attendance has been raised among the children.

According to the survey, about four in 10 infants aged 0-5 months are exclusively breastfed, eight out of 10 households consume iodized salt, about eight in 10 primary school age children attend school, and about nine in 10 children aged 12-23 months are protected against measles through immunisation.

These findings were revealed from Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2006 which conducted by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and released at a city hotel.

The survey also found that four in 10 households have access to improved sanitation.

A total of 62,463 households were covered in the survey from 1,950 enumeration areas. The rate of household response was 93 percent.

Adviser for Finance and Planning Mirza Md Azizul Islam and Unicef representative to Bangladesh Louis Georges Arsenault were present at the launch of the survey report.

MICS is an international household survey designed by Unicef to assist countries to plug data gaps for monitoring human development in general and the situation of children and women in particular.

MICS 2006 is the ninth round of the survey in Bangladesh, the first round was conducted in 1993.

This is the only household survey in Bangladesh that provides disaggregated data up to district level.

Improved coverage of iodized salt is seen in the latest report. Household iodized salt consumption rate rose from 70 per cent of MICS 2003 to 84 per cent in MICS 2006.

Similarly, the proportion of 12-23-month-olds immunised against measles increased from 83 per cent to 87 per cent during the same period.

However, Bangladesh needs to catch up some of the key Millennium Development Goal (MDG) indicators, as delivery assisted by skilled health personnel remains at 20 per cent and access to improved sanitation coverage is still at 39 per cent, the report added.